Water-gas apparatus.



J. G. STBLFOX.

WATER GAS APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.15, 1911.

WM Y7 FM time @TATBE PATENT @FFIQE.

JAMES CALDWELL STELFOX, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO ARTHUR GRAHAM GLASGOW, 0F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

WATER-GAS APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

a ten ted Sept. 2,1913.

Application filed December 15, 1911. Serial No. 665,935.

To all HF/LUNA it may concern.

Be it known that l, Janus (lALlHVEl'Ji H'rnllrox, a subject of the King of (treat Britain and Ireland, residing at \Vestminster, London, England, have invented Im- )rovements Relating to Water Gas Apparatus of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to prevent the opening of the blast valves of water gas apparatus it the pressure of the air in the blast main be below that of the gas in the generating apparatus or below some fixed relation to the latter, and thus to prevent. the passage of gas into the blast main, and the consequent formation of an explosive mixture in this main or in the machinery room. With this object in view, the blast valve or valves of the apparatus is or are controlled by a locking device actuated by differences in the pressures in the generating apparatus and the blastmain.

In one arrangement, the blast main at the inlet of the blast valve and the gas generating apparatus at the outlet of the blast valve are connected respectively to two chambers having in connection with them a movable device which is oppositely subjected to the pressure in the two chambers so that any excess pressure in either chamber over the other causes the device to move; preterably the adjacentwalls of the two chambers are constituted by diaphragms, the two diaphragms being connected as by a bar, and the diaphragms may be proportioned so as to move with any desired difference between the blast and gas pressures. This movement causes the bar or some connected lever to move into a slot in the blast valve spindle (or its operating rod) in such manner that the latter cannot be raised when the diaphragms are at one end of the stroke, but is free when the diaphragms are at the other end.

Referring to the accompanying drawlngs, Figure 1 is a view of part of a Water gas generating plant fitted with a blast valve the opening of which is controlled according to this invention and Figs. 2 and 3 are a sectional plan and an elevation respectively of one form of the valve locking device.

A is the spindle or operating rod of a blast valve and 13 its guide or standard of the usual type.

C is the chamber connected to the gas generating apparatus, with diaphragm D.

E is the second chamber coimected lo the blast. main, with diaphragm I The movement oi. these diaphragms and the connect ing bar (11 actuates the lever It and causes it to enter a slot in the operating red It when the pressure in chamber (1 is higher than that in chamber 1C or bears some fixed relation to it (according to the relative areas of the two diapln'agms). The lever II lies close mulerneath some stop such as indicated by J which prevents the operating rod A being raised when the lever H is in the slot. The movement of the diaphragms from the chamber ll toward the chamber C, when the )ressure in the chamber C falls to the required extent carries the lever ll clear of the. rod A so that the latter is tree to be raised.

hat I claim is 1. The eon'ibination with a water gas gencrating apparatus, its air blast main and air blast valve oi a movable device adapted in one position to e'tl'ect the locking of said valve closed and in another position to leave it free to be operated, said device being oppositely subjected to the respective pressures in the generating apparatus and the blastmain for the purpose set forth.

2. The cmnbiriation with water gas gencrating apparatus, its air blast main and air blast valve of two chambers connected with the blast main and generating apparatus respectively, adjacent walls of said chambers being constituted by flexible diaphragms and locking mechanism actuated by said diaphragms in suchwise as to prevent or permit the opening of the air blast valve according to the relative pressures in the blast main and in the generating aplnuratus, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

3. The combination with water gas generating apparatus, its air blast main and air blast valve of two chambers connected with the blast main and generating apparatus respectively, adjacent walls of said chambers being constituted by flexible diaphragms of such relative sizes that they are balanced by any desired dill'erence between the blast and gas pressures and locking mechanism actuated by said diaphragms in suchwise as to prevent or permit the opening of the air blast valve according to the relative pressures in the blast main and in the generating apparatus, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

blast valve of two chambers connected With the blast main and generating apparatus respectively, adjacent Walls 01 said chambers being constituted by flexible diaphragms, a slotted valve spindle, a lever adapted to engage in the slot of said spindle, a connection between said lever and said diaphragms whereby said lever is actuated by said diaphragms in suchWise as to prevent or permit the opening of the air blast valve according to the relative pressures in the blast main and in the generating apparatus, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

Signed at London, England, this sixth day of December, 1911.

JAMES GALDWVELL STELFOX.

Nitnesses:

l/VILLIAM ALFRED DANIELS, LAFAYETTE DAL'Y CARROLL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

